Abstract
BackgroundQuality water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities act as barricades to the transmission of COVID-19 in health care facilities. These facilities ought to also be available, accessible, and functional in temporary treatment centers. Despite numerous studies on health care facilities, however, there is limited information on the status of WASH facilities in such centers.MethodsThe assessment of health care facilities for the COVID-19 response checklist and key informant interviews, were used for data collection. 35 treatment centers in Southern Ethiopia were surveyed. Eightkey informants were interviewed to gain an understanding of the WASH conditions in the treatment centers. The Quantitative data was entered using EPI-INFO 7 and exported to SPSS 20 for analysis. Results are presented using descriptive statistics. Open Code 4.02 was used for the thematic analysis of the qualitative data.ResultsDaily water supply interruptions occurred at 27 (77.1%) of the surveyed sites. Only 30 (85.72%) had bathrooms that were segregated for personnel and patients, and only 3 (3.57%) had toilets that were handicapped accessible. 20(57.2%) of the treatment centers did not have a hand hygiene protocol that satisfied WHO guidelines. In terms of infection prevention and control, 16 (45.71%) of the facilities lacked adequate personal protective equipment stocks. Between urban and rural areas, there was also a significant difference in latrine maintenance, hand hygiene protocol design and implementation, and incineration capacity.ConclusionThe results reveal crucial deficiencies in the provision of WASH in the temporary COVID-19 treatment centers. Efforts to improve WASH should offer priority to hygiene service interventions to minimize the risk of healthcare-acquired infections. The sustainable provision of hygiene services, such as hand washing soap, should also be given priority.
Highlights
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first appeared in China in December 2019
30 (85.72%) had bathrooms that were segregated for personnel and patients, and only 3 (3.57%) had toilets that were handicapped accessible. 20(57.2%) of the treatment centers did not have a hand hygiene protocol that satisfied WHO guidelines
The results reveal crucial deficiencies in the provision of WASH in the temporary COVID-19 treatment centers
Summary
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first appeared in China in December 2019. Information on the transmission of the COVID-19 virus is ever-evolving, and the severity of infection with the virus has been shown to vary from very mild, non-respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory diseases, resulting in organ failure, sepsis, and death [3]. The majority of people (80%) recover from the disease without requiring special treatment. It can, lead to severe illness for certain individuals. Sanitation, and hygiene facilities act as barricades to the transmission of COVID-19 in health care facilities. These facilities ought to be available, accessible, and functional in temporary treatment centers. Despite numerous studies on health care facilities, there is limited information on the status of WASH facilities in such centers
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